The Tyrone Area School Board met this week to conduct business to appoint new administrators.
The board voted to accept the resignation of Jeanne M. Knouse, Middle/High School Special Education Supervisor and High School Principal Liaison. Mrs. Knouse has accepted a position as an administrator in the State College Area School District. She is completing her fourth year in the Tyrone Area School District.
The board also voted by an 8-1 vote to appoint Thomas A. Yoder of Huntingdon as the new Principal of Tyrone Area High School.
Yoder was interviewed by a committee of faculty, administration, and a parent, who also went over to the Bellefonte Schools to speak with various Bellefonte School District staff. After completing the interview process with Yoder and other candidates, the interview committee unanimously recommended Yoder to the Tyrone Area School Board.
Yoder is currently the Vice Principal of Bellefonte Area High School. He has served in that position since 2002. While serving in the Bellefonte District, some of Yoder’s responsibilities included serving on the Student Assistance Program, Disciplinarian for grades 11 and 12, Alternative Education Coordinator, a member of the District Technology Committee, a member of the District Budget Team, a member of the Master Schedule Team, a member of the Interview Team, and assisted with revisions to the Student and Faculty Handbooks.
Prior to serving as an administrator in the Bellefonte Area School District, Yoder served as an English and Humanities Teacher at Southern Huntingdon County High School from 1993 to 2002. Prior to his teaching career, he owned and operated the Mister Donut in Huntingdon from 1983 to 1992.
Yoder is a member of the Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals and the National Association of Secondary School Principals.
Yoder is a graduate of Huntingdon Area High School and completed his undergraduate work at St. Francis University. He completed his Masters Degree in Secondary English Education and his certification in Educational Administration at Penn State University.
Yoder has served his community in various capacities. He was a member of Huntingdon Borough Council from 1988 to 1999, serving as its President from 1995 to 1999. He has also has served on the board of the Huntingdon County Historical Society, Huntigndon Ambulance Service, and has volunteered his time for the United Way, Humane Society, and Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts.
